Fuel supply device



P" ,1953 J. T. w. MOSELEY ETAL 2,635,625

FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mmvron.

JAMES T.W. MOSLEY HAROLD A. CARLSON April 1953 J. T. w. MOSELEY EI'AL 2,635,625

FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. JAMES T.W. MOSLEY HAROLD A. CARLSON ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 21, 1953 FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE James T. W. Moseley, Clayton, and Harold A. Carlson, University City, Mo., assignors to Carter Carburetor Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application August 4, 1948, Serial No. 42,453

This invention relates to fuel supply devices, particularly of the type having a liquid fuel reservoir from which fuel is delivered to a consuming point.

An example of such an arrangement occurs in an automotive carburetor which has a constant level chamber with one or more metering orifices in the lower part thereof through which liquid fuel is supplied to the carburetor mixture conduit and the engine intake manifold. In case of surging of the fuel, as caused by a change of speed or direction of the vehicle,- the depth of fuel over the metering orifices may be varied so as to substantially affect the delivery of fuel.

The main object of the present invention is to provide means for substantially reducing the harmful effects due to surging in the liquid fuel reservoir.

This object and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top view of an automotive carburetor embodying the invention, the bowl cover being removed to illustrate the underlying structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view and section of the structure in Fig. 1 taken substantially on line 2-2 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section, certain parts being omitted to simplify the disclosure.

Fig. 4 is a section through the fuel bowl only and taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section of the same on line 5 -5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a modification.

Fig. 7 is a top view of the modified bowl.

The carburetor illustrated'is of the dual downdraft type having mixture conduits including an air inlet horn I0 at the upper end, a pair of mixing chambers ll, and a pair of outlets l2, flanged as at |3 for attachment to the usual engine intake manifold (not shown). The entry of air is controlled by a choke valve l4 having automatic choke control mechanism in a housing l5. The delivery of mixture is controlled by a pair of butterfly throttle valves .|6.

Adjacent the mixture conduit is a constant level fuel reservoir 20 enclosing afloat 2| operating a needle valve 22 in the tapped fuel inlet 23. The float and needle valve constitute conventional constant level control mechanism functioning to admit suflicient fuel through the inlet to maintain fuel in the reservoir up to the uniform normal level XX. A pair of metering 8 Claims. (Cl. 137428) orifice or port elements 24 are providedin the lower part of the reservoir and each of these leads to a main fuel passage 25 and main fuel nozzle 26' opening into a primary venturi' 2! in the mixture conduit. Idling fuel is supplied through a pair of metering tubes as at 28 projecting from main fuel passages 25 and communicating through passages 29 and 30 with idle ports 3| and 32 adjacent and posterior to the throttle valves l6 when closed. A cylinder 33 in the bowl in which works a piston 34, provides for the supply of accelerating fuel through restricted pump nozzles 36. The delivery or metering orifice elements 24 are controlled by meterin'g'rods 38 operated by suction and from the throttle by means including cyl inder 39, piston and piston rod 40, yoke 4|, and finger 42 on throttle actuated counter shaft 43.

Surrounding metering ports 24 is a vertical bafile wall or partition 45 which extends from the bottom to the top of the reservoir. This partition forms, with the inner wall of the reservoir, a restricted inner chamber 45 which communicates with the outer reservoir through one or more restricted apertures 41 in the partitioning below the normal fuel level. In the present case, slots or orifices 48 also are formed in the partitioning above the fuel level.

A horizontal cross passage 49 is formed in bowl cover 50 for conducting fuel from inlet 23 past needle valve 22 to ports 5| opening directly into restricted chamber 46. As best shown in Fig. 3, a portion of cover 50 depends, as at 52, within chamber 46 to a level slightly above the normal fuel level X-X so as to substantially reduce the free air space directly above the fuel level in the chamber.

In operation, fuel'is delivered to inlet 23 from the usual fuel pump (not shown) at substantially constant pressure. Fuel in the inner restricted chamber and in the outer reservoir, normally, will stand at the common level X-X (Fig. 4). However, upon a sharp change in speed or direction, surging in the fuel will occur, as indicated by the fuel surface lines in Fig. 5. Initially, while the liquid surface in the outer reservoir will be inclined as at Y-Y, the level in the inner chamber will take the parallel, higher position ZZ. This results from the feeding of the fuel initially into the restricted chamber when tilting or surging lowers the float in the main bowl portion, Since a time factor is required for balancing of the levels inside and outside of the small chamber at such times, the fuel over metering orifices 24 will be maintained at a higher level than would be the case if fuel were directed into the outer, main bowl or if walls 45 were omitted. Ultimately, a condition of equilibrium will be reached through communicating apertures 41, but substantial initial advantages will be obtained because of the partitioning. Apertureefi 'shoul'd'loe of "about the maximum capacity of orifice elements 24 and of SUfflCllllt size to insure proper operation of the float under normal conditions.

Another advantage lies in the fact that while the effect of surging is limited by the small, isolated, inner chamber, whenthecarburetor .is at rest there is a continuous fuel level over the full surface of the reservoir. Thus, in case of leakage past the needle valve due, for instance, to vaporization in the fuel line and consequent high pressure, there will be "only relatively slight tendency to raise the fuel leveland reduced or eliminated wastage by main nozzle overflow.

In the modification represented "in "Figs. "6 and '7 innercham'b'er '55 issubstantially narrower than the distance in'the outer reservoir between each partition portion 56 and "the adjacent, facing reservoir endwall'f'5l. 'The'partitionirrg extends entirely across the bowl as at "58 "and 59 and the float is "located "within the inner chamber.

An advantage'in the form of Figs. '6 and"? results from the greater width of surface of liquid fuel in the outer'rreservoir so that upon surging, there 'is more tendency -of the "fuel to enter the inner chamber throughslotstil above the normal fuel "leveljthan for fuel to leave this chamber through the same orifices, "as .sug-

gested by broken surface lines"MM''andN-N.

The invention maybem'odified'in various respects as will 'occur'to 'thos'e 'skilledi'in 'the'art and the exclusive use .of "all modifications as come within the'scope of'the appended claims is contemplated.

We claim:

1. A fuel supply*device'for'automotive engines comprising a constant level "fuel reservoir, afuel delivery port in the lower ,part thereof, partitioning surrounding said port and "forming "a restricted chamber within said reservoir, and means for'supplyingfuel dir'ectly"tosaid"chamber and thence through saidip'artition'ing into the outer reservoir.

2. A fuel supply device for 'aut'omotiveiengines comprising a fuel reservoir, afuel dliveryp'ort in the lower part thereof,partitioningsurrounding said port and forming a restricted inner chamber, there being restricted communication through said partitioning between said ;chamber and the outer reservoir, afuel inlet discharging directly into said inner chamber, avalvein' said inlet, and level responsive meansinthe -outer reservoir controlling said valve.

3. A fuel supply device comprising a "liquid fuel reservoir having fuel delivery .port means in the lower part thereof, partitioning closely encompassing said .port "means and forming a restricted, open top chamber withinsaid'r'e'servoir, said partitioning completely "surrounding said port means and "beingprovi'ded with .a restricted aperture connecting said chamber with the outer .reservoir, a "fuel inlet "dischargingdirectly into"the top -o'fisaidchaxriber, a control valve in said inlet, and a float in the outer reservoir controlling said valve so as to maintain fuel in said reservoir at a normal constant level.

4. A fuel supply device as described in claim 3 in which said partitioning extends above the normal fuel level.

5. A fuel supply device as described in claim 3 in which a plurality of delivery ports are provided in said inner chamber, said partitioning being provided with an aperture below the normal fuel level of only slightly greater capacity thansaid ports.

Z6. Affuel supply device as described in claim 3 further including :top wall structure for said chamber substantially restricting the free air space above the fuel level in said chamber so asto reducethedisturbance due to surging of the fuel while permitting restricted egress of fuel from said chamber.

LA ,fuel supply device comprising a liquid fuelreservo'irlhaving delivery porting inthelower partthereof, partitioning closelysurroun'ding said porting and'forming a substantiallyisolated inner chamber, a fuel inlet leading intially, directly into the .top of .said chamber, constant level maintaining mechanism in the outer reservoir controlling said ."inlet, restricted passage means through said partitioning forming communication between said chamber and the outer reservoir anda cover for said reservoir having a depending portion directly above said chamber forilimiting'theifree air space above the fuel in saidchamber.

.8. .A .fuel supply device comprising. a constant level reservoir definediby upright side and .end walls, a bottom .and atop, a delivery portin the lower medial portion of said reservoir, spaced transverse upright .baflies in said reservoir disposed on .opposite sides of said port and extending above the inormal'fuel "level, said .bafiies defining a relatively small medial chamber and larger .end chambers, means for delivering fuel directly into said medial chamber, .a passagewayacross said baffles located above the normal fuel level .for the .movement .of vfuel from. the larger chambers-during surging, and a restricted communication through said bafiies'below the normal fuel .level for transfer of fuel from the medial .fuel receiving chamber to the outer chambers during .normal operation, the outer larger chambers'being substantially free of obstruction to permit free surging movement of fuel, whereby greater'fuel depth will at all times be maintained in the smaller medial chamber and above said delivery port, than in the outer chambers.

JAMES T. "W. MOSELEY. HAROLD A. 'CARLSON.

"References Cited in the file of this patent .UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,116,023 Crawford Nov. 3, '1914 1,193,744 Wilkinson. .Aug. 8, 1916 1,488,238 :Good. ;Mar. 25,1924 1,983,112 Whitehurst -Dec. 4, 1934 2,212,926 Wirth. .Aug.227, 19%0 2,255,296 .Moseley- Sept. 9, 1941 

